Hello just went to purchase from your site as promised but for some strange reason speakers that are typically used as a mono reference I can only find as pairs on your site. Is there a link to buy 1 reftone speaker for mono checking mixes rather than a pair? If not that's going to be a deal breaker for me and many others that use cubes just for mono checks.
@@SessionsWithMike Hi, Michael. Great question. Currently, we only stock the passive version of the Ref-Cubes as a pair, but we do have the powered version available individually: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RefCubeAct--reftone-ld-3b-mono-powered-bluetooth-ref-cube I double checked on Reftone's website and it looks like they do have the passive version available individually, as well. We may be able to get it special ordered for you if that's what you need. If you're already working with a Sales Engineer, contact them directly for further details - otherwise, I'll be happy to help. Give us a shout anytime and we will be glad to help. Thanks for reaching out! Caleb Lowrey, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1620, caleb_lowrey@sweetwater.com
I'm getting a pair asap! Literally was going to buy the Avatones before I saw this, but this changed my mind. Love people that are passionate about audio and engineering and put that into their design.
The best speakers I have used, also with subwoofers to use as main monitors, incredible depth and resolution everything the Reftone founders say is 100 % true. i wish i had used these thirty years ago then i would not have had to try so many monitors & waste so much money :(
I can’t express how happy I am to see Sweetwater carrying Reftones! I almost wanna give my pair away and buy another set just to express my support. (That ain’t gonna happen btw. These are going in the casket with me.) Inarguably the most important thing to a mix engineer is her ears. And next to that, the monitors feeding said ears. There’s no more useful monitors for informing mix decisions at any price point. There are much more fun exciting studio mains, and each engineer has their favorites. But Reftones are the audio engineer’s stethoscope.
This sounds pretty exciting. I currently use a single Avantone (mono sumed) and have great results with my mastering. I am open to this as an option or perhaps an upgrade? My question would be the connection options. Why are the powered version missing a proper XLR or TRS input? I would typically run a preamp to give it a more proper 3-4 volt signal which dual RCA to a single AUX in isn't an issue but some folks just starting out might want to plug them in directly to a TRS from the interface and have to buy special cables for it which I have to admit for a "powered" studio monitor is a bit odd. I wouldn't trust a BT connection for audio fidelity.
REFTONE!!! I love this companies drive and work! Definitely going to get either a pair or the single. I've been putting all my engineer and producer friends on to this product. Also, congrats on getting this to Sweetwater!!!
A favourite Mix Engineer who does very well in the USA charts spoke about them used in conjunction his SSL J series - great to see them in the spotlight ⬆️⬆️👊🏽
Paper obviously has staying power. Just thinking about the many thousands of vintage amps that still work great decade after decade. Been looking for a cube monitor set so, this has convinced me to get the Refs!
I love the idea that they are made of baltic birch plywood. having the amp in one speaker and no amp in the other speaker does change the cabinet volume. Don't they sound a bit different then (different air volumes of the boxes lead to different resistance for woofer pushback) ? If you buy only one speaker for true mono referencing that of course would not be the case.
Hey there! It’s certainly not a bad technique to use in mixing. The main idea is making everything sound good without any stereo spread… essentially, you’ll have much less space in just a mono mix than a stereo mix. If you can get extreme clarity in your mono mix, then everything is going to have really nice separation once you listen back in stereo. Some of my favorite engineers have mentioned that they run their mixes this way. I’m a big fan of the practice! Thanks for reaching out. Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
it's no secret. they just want you to buy more shit. Look at Pro studios and then look at how little they use Most of that expensive equipment ? they usually will use 90% two-four monitors, a reference pair and a sub, plus one Mixing consol. that's it ! the other 10% they'll get deep with using slightly more. I LOVE SWEETWATER, but they do push you into falling in love with equipment long before you even get a chance to try it.
@@DalesBadBug ummm...okay. Well, that wasn't Sweetwater "selling" anything, or saying the Secret's out. That was me. I don't think they ever sold Reftones, original Auratones, Brystons, NS10s, or SSL 9000j or k consoles. In the 30+ years I've been in and out of "Pro" studios, with all of these useless toys as you imply, the above mentioned has been a killer combination for about 90% of dare I say any mix. If you were to say that the obscenely expensive Studio Mains, built into the front wall, were often deemed useless in the actual mixing process, you'd have an argument. But that's where the 5Cs and even better Reftones come in to save the day/mix. Kinda the point here. If you were to say that those SSLs, NEVEs, and APIs regularly get relegated to six figure laptop stands and monitor controllers, again you'd have a point. The desk and the mains do seem to primarily be in place to impress the clients all too often these days. The beauty of Sweetwater picking up Reftone is precisely that, by spending only a few hundred dollars Sweetwater's massive base will benefit Far more than spending a couple thousand dollars on middle of the road 2-ways. In terms of actually mixing to translate.
Hi, Paul. Great question! Yes, the RefCubes would work well as keyboard monitors. However, they bottom out at around 70Hz, so if you want to hear a lot of low end in your keyboard sound, you might consider looking at other options and/or adding a subwoofer. Hope this helps, and feel free to contact me directly with any further questions! Caleb Lowrey, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1620, caleb_lowrey@sweetwater.com
Well, what Dave didn’t mention in this video, is that the Reftones started with the question: How good can single driver sealed cubes sound, with no restrictions? The modern Auratones are pretty universally dismissed by users of original Auratone 5Cs. And again, Reftones blow the originals out of the water. I never agreed with the “horror tones” nonsense, 5Cs sound good, minus the top end and end bottom. But they are super fast and accurate and non ear fatiguing in the mids, which is what they’re for. The Reftones are all of that, but even faster, more accurate, less fatiguing, but have all the top end and most of the bottom.
I think they are over emphasizing the mono thing. Its a good check for phase, volume changes, and a few other specific areas but mixing in mono doesn't make sense for most applications beyond the basic checks for phase, etc.
I beg to differ. If anything Mono Compatability is more important than ever. A large percentage of music is being listened to on Mobile devices and Tablets now, in addition to Clubs that are often running their PA in Mono as to get even coverage throughout the room(s).
@Tazmanian Ninja believe it or not, this thread helped me decide between, getting a pair or mono. will definitely be goin mono. still a tad jealous for those with a pair though😅
The bluetooth tech in these speakers won't be innovative for more than a decade because bluetooth will have a new technology upgrade in a few years just like everything wireless. Are the speakers upgradable for new bluetooth wireless modules, or will the speakers become obsolete after 5 years ?
Well, Bluetooth launched in 1999. 20+ years ain’t a bad run. For me, if wireless connectivity is why you’re choosing Studio Reference Monitors, we have bigger problems than technological obsolescence.
@@superblondeDotOrg Yes but newer Bluetooth doesn’t stop older Bluetooth from working And yes newer might be better but it still doesn’t necessarily make older obsolete. And your commenting on these speakers having Bluetooth capability as if it’s a negative, because one day it might stop working. The same argument could be made for anything else that relies on technology. The smart people buy what they need today and get on with life and let the future take care of itself.
Had to come and leave a review. Started with the mono refcube. Then a few months later I bought the satellite cube to complete the pair. This speaker is truly a game changer. The stereo imaging and transient response is insane. The frequency range is mid focus with a bump in 10k which I like cuz it forces me to mix warmer which is the sonic character of my favorite albums so I’m totally fine with that. When you listen to amazing mixes on these you see how they should sound so it forces you to work to reach that same result. There is useful low end information as well they go pretty deep for how small they are. I don’t recommend room correction software on these, it sucks the character out. I think I’m pushing 3 years with these now. Great great product. I have a fully self treated room with rockwool and fiberglass panels and traps. I’ve produced for 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Bun B, Xzibit among others. 💯📀🙏🏼🔥🫶🏼
Let's show Reftone some love! We're so excited to welcome them to the Sweetwater family!
Have y'all put thought into becoming an Alvarez dealer?
Hello just went to purchase from your site as promised but for some strange reason speakers that are typically used as a mono reference I can only find as pairs on your site. Is there a link to buy 1 reftone speaker for mono checking mixes rather than a pair? If not that's going to be a deal breaker for me and many others that use cubes just for mono checks.
@@SessionsWithMike Hi, Michael. Great question. Currently, we only stock the passive version of the Ref-Cubes as a pair, but we do have the powered version available individually:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RefCubeAct--reftone-ld-3b-mono-powered-bluetooth-ref-cube
I double checked on Reftone's website and it looks like they do have the passive version available individually, as well. We may be able to get it special ordered for you if that's what you need. If you're already working with a Sales Engineer, contact them directly for further details - otherwise, I'll be happy to help.
Give us a shout anytime and we will be glad to help. Thanks for reaching out!
Caleb Lowrey, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1620, caleb_lowrey@sweetwater.com
Awesome addition. Go Lisa - Women’s History Month, raising the bar once again with Sweetwater...! Well done.
I'm getting a pair asap! Literally was going to buy the Avatones before I saw this, but this changed my mind. Love people that are passionate about audio and engineering and put that into their design.
The best speakers I have used,
also with subwoofers to use as main monitors, incredible depth and resolution
everything the Reftone founders say is 100 % true.
i wish i had used these thirty years ago then i would not have had to try so many monitors & waste so much money :(
I will be checking these out real soon. Thanks Sweetwater!
Sweetwater so goated luv u mitch!
Ill be purchasing a pair...I look forward to my mixing skills to improve. Im also interested to learn more about the Refbuds.
I can’t express how happy I am to see Sweetwater carrying Reftones! I almost wanna give my pair away and buy another set just to express my support. (That ain’t gonna happen btw. These are going in the casket with me.) Inarguably the most important thing to a mix engineer is her ears. And next to that, the monitors feeding said ears. There’s no more useful monitors for informing mix decisions at any price point. There are much more fun exciting studio mains, and each engineer has their favorites. But Reftones are the audio engineer’s stethoscope.
This is so exciting!!! I love my Reftones. Lisa is amazing!!! 🤩🤩🤩
This sounds pretty exciting. I currently use a single Avantone (mono sumed) and have great results with my mastering. I am open to this as an option or perhaps an upgrade? My question would be the connection options. Why are the powered version missing a proper XLR or TRS input? I would typically run a preamp to give it a more proper 3-4 volt signal which dual RCA to a single AUX in isn't an issue but some folks just starting out might want to plug them in directly to a TRS from the interface and have to buy special cables for it which I have to admit for a "powered" studio monitor is a bit odd. I wouldn't trust a BT connection for audio fidelity.
REFTONE!!! I love this companies drive and work! Definitely going to get either a pair or the single. I've been putting all my engineer and producer friends on to this product. Also, congrats on getting this to Sweetwater!!!
I'm getting these asap. Didn't even have to watch the video. I know these are the truth
OMG ! I'm sold ! Tell Julio I Said HELLO!!!!!
mitch is such a cool guy, someday i want to drink a beer with him, he has so a nice vibe to talk to people, i love it. Thanks mitch
A favourite Mix Engineer who does very well in the USA charts spoke about them used in conjunction his SSL J series - great to see them in the spotlight ⬆️⬆️👊🏽
This is great information. I'm hearing this recurring message about the importance of focusing on the mid-range frequencies for mixing. Good stuff!
Paper obviously has staying power. Just thinking about the many thousands of vintage amps that still work great decade after decade. Been looking for a cube monitor set so, this has convinced me to get the Refs!
Welcome Reftone. I need this product in my home studio. As soon as I have the money. They will be mine. Can’t wait to see your future products.
These look awesome, been looking for an addition to my monitoring that’s much more midrange focused, these seem like they will be perfect!
Getting one or two of these soon
These are now on my radar 👍🏾. I wish them every success.
Please include the reftones drivers on your products
I love the idea that they are made of baltic birch plywood. having the amp in one speaker and no amp in the other speaker does change the cabinet volume. Don't they sound a bit different then (different air volumes of the boxes lead to different resistance for woofer pushback) ? If you buy only one speaker for true mono referencing that of course would not be the case.
Can u buy these in the UK?
Mitch’s right hand should get a channel of its own.
I have the avantone mix cubes, and barely used it. I don’t know if these monitors are better then the avantones🤷
WAYYYY Better! Just get 1 and compare. You’ll be ordering the second one and listing the Avantones on Reverb within hours.
@@G_handle thanks
is it good to use as a single mono reference monitor?
Hey there! It’s certainly not a bad technique to use in mixing. The main idea is making everything sound good without any stereo spread… essentially, you’ll have much less space in just a mono mix than a stereo mix. If you can get extreme clarity in your mono mix, then everything is going to have really nice separation once you listen back in stereo. Some of my favorite engineers have mentioned that they run their mixes this way. I’m a big fan of the practice!
Thanks for reaching out.
Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
@@sweetwater thank you Sir!
Do I need the pair? Or I can work with just one?
Guess the secrets out! Reftones, Bryston amps, and SSL 9000J has been the killer combo for years.
it's no secret. they just want you to buy more shit. Look at Pro studios and then look at how little they use Most of that expensive equipment ? they usually will use 90% two-four monitors, a reference pair and a sub, plus one Mixing consol. that's it ! the other 10% they'll get deep with using slightly more. I LOVE SWEETWATER, but they do push you into falling in love with equipment long before you even get a chance to try it.
a 14 year buyer from Sweetwater. Audio engineer/Producer for 10 years
@@DalesBadBug ummm...okay.
Well, that wasn't Sweetwater "selling" anything, or saying the Secret's out. That was me.
I don't think they ever sold Reftones, original Auratones, Brystons, NS10s, or SSL 9000j or k consoles.
In the 30+ years I've been in and out of "Pro" studios, with all of these useless toys as you imply, the above mentioned has been a killer combination for about 90% of dare I say any mix.
If you were to say that the obscenely expensive Studio Mains, built into the front wall, were often deemed useless in the actual mixing process, you'd have an argument. But that's where the 5Cs and even better Reftones come in to save the day/mix. Kinda the point here.
If you were to say that those SSLs, NEVEs, and APIs regularly get relegated to six figure laptop stands and monitor controllers, again you'd have a point.
The desk and the mains do seem to primarily be in place to impress the clients all too often these days.
The beauty of Sweetwater picking up Reftone is precisely that, by spending only a few hundred dollars Sweetwater's massive base will benefit Far more than spending a couple thousand dollars on middle of the road 2-ways. In terms of actually mixing to translate.
Would these work as keyboard monitors (for home)? Would they be enough? Would they be overkill?
Hi, Paul. Great question! Yes, the RefCubes would work well as keyboard monitors. However, they bottom out at around 70Hz, so if you want to hear a lot of low end in your keyboard sound, you might consider looking at other options and/or adding a subwoofer. Hope this helps, and feel free to contact me directly with any further questions!
Caleb Lowrey, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1620, caleb_lowrey@sweetwater.com
Do these do the same job as the Avantones?
MUCH better!
Awesome...
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
Awesome
Looking forward to an actual demo.
❤️❤️❤️
How are these different from modern Auratones?
Blu tooth compatibility is the major one.
Nice feature but not a deal maker.
Well, what Dave didn’t mention in this video, is that the Reftones started with the question: How good can single driver sealed cubes sound, with no restrictions? The modern Auratones are pretty universally dismissed by users of original Auratone 5Cs. And again, Reftones blow the originals out of the water. I never agreed with the “horror tones” nonsense, 5Cs sound good, minus the top end and end bottom. But they are super fast and accurate and non ear fatiguing in the mids, which is what they’re for. The Reftones are all of that, but even faster, more accurate, less fatiguing, but have all the top end and most of the bottom.
I think they are over emphasizing the mono thing. Its a good check for phase, volume changes, and a few other specific areas but mixing in mono doesn't make sense for most applications beyond the basic checks for phase, etc.
I beg to differ. If anything Mono Compatability is more important than ever. A large percentage of music is being listened to on Mobile devices and Tablets now, in addition to Clubs that are often running their PA in Mono as to get even coverage throughout the room(s).
@@G_handle Clubs also often run at least the subs in mono, because the amps are run in bridge mode, to double the power.
Mixing in mono force you to fix collisions. But it also helps you mix the ambience, reverb and delays.
@Tazmanian Ninja believe it or not, this thread helped me decide between, getting a pair or mono. will definitely be goin mono. still a tad jealous for those with a pair though😅
The bluetooth tech in these speakers won't be innovative for more than a decade because bluetooth will have a new technology upgrade in a few years just like everything wireless. Are the speakers upgradable for new bluetooth wireless modules, or will the speakers become obsolete after 5 years ?
Well, Bluetooth launched in 1999. 20+ years ain’t a bad run. For me, if wireless connectivity is why you’re choosing Studio Reference Monitors, we have bigger problems than technological obsolescence.
@@G_handle these monitors are bluetooth 4.2. there is already bluetooth 6.
@@superblondeDotOrg
Yes but so far, Bluetooth is backwards compatible.
@@Truth565 newer bluetooth has much better audio codec. bluetooth audio is lossy, so newer is better. that is why it is important.
@@superblondeDotOrg Yes but newer Bluetooth doesn’t stop older Bluetooth from working And yes newer might be better but it still doesn’t necessarily make older obsolete. And your commenting on these speakers having Bluetooth capability as if it’s a negative, because one day it might stop working. The same argument could be made for anything else that relies on technology. The smart people buy what they need today and get on with life and let the future take care of itself.
Had to come and leave a review. Started with the mono refcube. Then a few months later I bought the satellite cube to complete the pair. This speaker is truly a game changer. The stereo imaging and transient response is insane. The frequency range is mid focus with a bump in 10k which I like cuz it forces me to mix warmer which is the sonic character of my favorite albums so I’m totally fine with that. When you listen to amazing mixes on these you see how they should sound so it forces you to work to reach that same result. There is useful low end information as well they go pretty deep for how small they are. I don’t recommend room correction software on these, it sucks the character out. I think I’m pushing 3 years with these now. Great great product. I have a fully self treated room with rockwool and fiberglass panels and traps. I’ve produced for 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Bun B, Xzibit among others. 💯📀🙏🏼🔥🫶🏼
could you pair with a sub and have it full range, but that take away form accurate-ness of the what you hear been the truth? if you see what I mean